Immediate Action Required on Reports of Sexual Violence in Ozoro

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Press Release:

March 20, 2026

Naija Feminists Media strongly condemns the ongoing reports of sexual violence against women in Ozoro, Delta State, which began circulating yesterday, March 19, through multiple videos and eyewitness accounts. These reports show groups of men moving through communities, forcing their way into compounds, stripping women, and subjecting them to sexual assault.

The attacks are reportedly being carried out under the guise of a cultural activity expected to last for seven days. Videos show women being chased, publicly exposed, and violated. Instead of protection, women are being left at the mercy of organised groups carrying out these acts in broad daylight.

Sexual violence is a criminal offence under Nigerian law. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 prohibits rape and all forms of assault and affirms the right of every individual to safety and dignity. No cultural practice excuses the violation of women’s bodies, and no tradition permits this level of harm.

We are therefore calling on the Nigeria Police Force, the Delta State Government, and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to take immediate action to halt these attacks, secure affected communities, protect women, and ensure that all those responsible are identified and prosecuted.

The spread of multiple videos documenting these acts, without swift intervention, reflects a wider pattern where violence against women is minimised, delayed, or ignored. When this happens, it sends a message that women’s bodies can be violated without consequence.

This situation highlights a level of impunity that allows groups of men to target women openly, with little fear of accountability. Women must be able to live in their homes and communities without fear of being exposed, attacked, or violated under any circumstance.

In solidarity,

Naija Feminists Media